Trump Tells CBS News He 'Doesn't Know' Who Binance's CZ Is, Claims He Was a Victim

10 hours ago7 min read

In a move that should surprise absolutely no one who has been paying attention to the political theater of the absurd, Donald Trump has once again taken to the airwaves, this time telling CBS News with a straight face that he 'doesn't know' who Changpeng 'CZ' Zhao, the founder of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, even is. This claim, dripping with the kind of plausible deniability that has become a hallmark of his public life, comes as he simultaneously positions himself as the victim in a narrative that grows more convoluted by the minute.Let's be crystal clear: this isn't just a simple memory lapse; it's a calculated political gambit. For a man who has built a significant part of his post-presidential identity around courting the crypto vote and lambasting the regulatory overreach of the Biden administration, to plead ignorance about a figure as monumental as CZ—a man whose legal battles with the U.S. government have sent shockwaves through the entire digital asset ecosystem—strains credulity to its breaking point.Zhao was, until recently, a titan whose every move was scrutinized, a central character in the ongoing saga of crypto's clash with traditional finance and law. For Trump to claim unfamiliarity is akin to a sports commentator claiming they've never heard of LeBron James.The deeper context here is the raw, unvarnished war for the soul of American finance and governance. Trump is actively positioning himself as the anti-establishment champion for crypto, a sector populated by libertarians and innovators deeply suspicious of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the current administration's approach.His 'victim' claim is a masterclass in his signature rhetoric, designed to resonate with his base's perception of a weaponized justice system, while his feigned ignorance of CZ is a strategic distancing from a figure now tarnished by legal consequences. This is pure political jujitsu: absorb the energy of the crypto movement's grievances while deflecting any potential negative association with its fallen giants.Remember, this is the same playbook from the 2016 election—the outsider being persecuted by the Washington swamp. Only now, the battleground has expanded to include blockchain, Bitcoin, and the billions of dollars flowing through decentralized networks.The consequences are profound. This statement isn't just a soundbite; it's a signal to his supporters and the markets.It demonstrates a keen, if cynical, understanding that in the age of memes and digital communities, perception is everything. By painting himself as the victim of a system that also went after crypto's biggest players, he forges a powerful, emotional alliance.He's not just a candidate; he's a fellow target. Meanwhile, the real story of Binance's multi-billion dollar settlement and CZ's sentencing is relegated to the background, a complex tale of compliance and jurisdiction overshadowed by the bombast of a presidential campaign.This is the new political reality, where facts are malleable and narrative is king. Trump’s denial isn't a lapse of memory; it's a declaration of war on the very concept of established truth, and he’s betting that in the crypto wild west, that’s a currency that still holds immense value.

#featured

#Donald Trump

#Binance

#Changpeng Zhao

#regulatory actions

#cryptocurrency exchanges

#legal case

Stay Informed. Act Smarter.

Get weekly highlights, major headlines, and expert insights — then put your knowledge to work in our live prediction markets.